24-Jan-2023: Centre has decided to nominate the Charaideo Maidams in Assam for the UNESCO World Heritage Centre this year.

Assam's Charaideo Moidams

• Represents late medieval mound burial tradition of Tai Ahom community in Assam
• Mortal remains of Ahom royalty buried with their paraphernalia
• After 18th century, Ahom rulers adopted Hindu method of cremation and entombed ashes in Maidam at Charaideo
• 90 royal burials at Charaideo are best preserved, representative of and most complete examples of mound burial tradition of Ahoms

Ahom Kingdom

• Established in 1228 in Brahmaputra valley of Assam
• Ruled for 600 years, till annexed by British India in 1826
• Founded by Chaolung Sukapha
• Suppressed older political system of bhuiyans and relied on forced labour of paiks
• Society divided into clans or khels
• Accepted Hindu religion and Assamese language, but didn't completely give up traditional beliefs
• Army consisted of infantry, navy, artillery, elephantry, cavalry and spies
• Expert in guerilla fighting and constructing boat bridges in Brahmaputra